The African Sports & Creative Institute Weekly Newsletter - Week 50
Mihofnima?
No’awani, koyahata?
(Greetings?) in Pular a local dialect of the Fulani language - one of the more widely spoken native languages in Guinea and larger West Africa as we explore this part of Africa - our feature country this week.
December is half-way done, we’re getting to the holiday mood. That means there is still sports business and here are some headlines including how the African gaming market is expected to grow by USD$ 10.81 Billion by 2033; Canal+ group going public while Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) looks to grow on the African continent, are some of the stories to get us going.
Drop us a line on [email protected], a note or two, and reach out to us on any coverage. Indulge us for a few minutes.
Bissimillah!
The gaming industry in Africa is experiencing explosive growth, fueled by increasing smartphone penetration, improved internet access, and a young, tech-savvy population. The study conducted by Astute Analytica shows the growth opportunities being generated in the gaming sphere. Let's see how this goes.
In a landmark and significant move, CANAL+ Group is set to debut on the London Stock Exchange. A secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is also anticipated soon, aligning Canal+ with MultiChoice Group , a major player in the African media landscape.
With its mix of athleticism, culture, and entertainment, Mixed Martial Arts Academy (MMA) is positioning itself as a major player in Africa's vibrant sports scene. Will it become the continent’s next big sporting phenomenon?
In 2024, the world’s 15 highest-paid female athletes are projected to earn a combined $221 million—a remarkable 27% increase compared to last year, according to Sporticos . Even more notable, 11 athletes are set to earn at least $10 million, nearly doubling the number from 2023. Cheers to the worthy ladies for breaking the bank!
The sports industry is gearing up for a brighter future in 2025, with Fitch Ratings projecting improved business prospects. Key drivers include a surge in media rights deals, sponsorship growth, and the continued global expansion of sports properties. This is a boon for sports as we enter the mid-section of the decade, great impetus to the 2020s!
The East African initiative has primarily focused on gravel racing so far, but it will take part in the Tour du Rwanda in February 2025 and aims to promote more UCI Union Cycliste Internationale road racing across Africa in the future.
Betway SA20 and global smart logistics leader DP World have unveiled a strategic partnership ahead of the highly anticipated Season 3, set to kick off on January 9, 2025. This is boon to the great cricket game in South Africa and on the continent too!
This year's CAF Confederation of African Football CAF Awards were held in Marrakech, Morocco, celebrating Africa's finest football talent, with Ademola Lookman, Barbra Banda, and Inaki Williams emerging as the night’s big winners. This will encourage the next crop of African players to challenge for both club and national honours.
What We Loved
This past week marked an extraordinary milestone as Rwanda hosted the global motorsport family for the prestigious FIA – Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile 2024 Awards. From Formula 1 to World Rally, Endurance, Karting, and Rallycross, this historic event celebrated the remarkable achievements of drivers, constructors, and teams, bringing the electrifying spirit of motorsport to Africa in a truly spectacular way.
Besides being a celebration of champions, this event underscored Rwanda’s emergence as a premier destination for world-class events. Thanks to visionary leadership, innovation, and strategic partnerships, hosting the FIA Awards showcases Rwanda's growing influence in tourism and mobility, two vital pillars of the country’s economic transformation.
And what a way for the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) (Visit Rwanda) and the city of Kigali in their outstanding efforts in creating an unforgettable experience for the guests!
Rwanda continues to shine as a leader in tourism, sustainability, and now, as a rising force in the global arena. The journey has just begun!
?What We Are Reading
Do you love the thrill of competition, the triumph of the underdog, and the grit of champions? The Most Incredible Sports Stories Ever Told is your all-access pass to 22 unforgettable tales of perseverance, passion, and jaw-dropping feats from the world of sports. It is a good read as you look for different sports disciplines and stories around. ?From iconic moments to hidden gems, this book has something for every fan; football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey
Relive legendary moments like Ronda Rousey breaking barriers in the UFC, the Boston Red Sox’s historic comeback against the Yankees and the “Rumble in the Jungle” where Ali faced Foreman and the birth of the “rope-a-dope”. Get a copy here
Country-Focus
Guinea, also referred to as Guinea-Conakry is one of three African countries with the name ‘Guinea’. It borders the Atlantic Ocean, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, C?te d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. ?
* The name Guinea originates from the Portuguese word Guiné, coined in the mid-15th century to describe the lands inhabited by the Guineus, a term for African peoples south of the Senegal River, distinguishing them from the "tawny" Zenaga Berbers to the north, known as Azengues or Moors.
* Conakry - the capital city’s name is believed to originate from the fusion of Cona, a Baga wine and cheese producer on Tombo Island (the site of the current capital), and nakiri, a Susu word meaning "the other bank" or "the other side."
* The Niger River, the Gambia River, and the Senegal River are among the 22 West African rivers that have their origins in Guinea - due to its forested regions;
* Guinea's network of protected areas covers approximately 35.6% of the national territory, consisting of three national parks and other protected areas. These include Badiar National Park, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, National Park of Upper Niger, Nialama Classified Forest, Pinselly Classified Forest, and Ziama Massif.
* The Conakry Grand Mosque is a mosque in Conakry - it is the fourth largest mosque in Africa and the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
* Guinea is rich in minerals, holding an estimated quarter of the world’s proven bauxite reserves, over 1.8 billion metric tons of high-grade iron ore, significant deposits of diamonds and gold, and undisclosed quantities of uranium;
* Guinea is home to one of Africa’s biggest musical talent, Mory Kante who became the first African musician to sell over a million copies of his evergreen ‘Yeke Yeke’ hit;
* The flag of Guinea consists of three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green. Red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work, yellow symbolizes the sun, the riches of the earth, and justice, while green stands for the country's vegetation and unity.
Population: 13,986,179 GDP: ??$23.205 billion ?Nominal per capita: $1,542
Sports:
Football Milestones: Guinea’s men’s national team is nicknamed ‘The National Elephants’ currently ranked 78th on the FIFA rankings.
Their best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations was runners-up in 1976. The team reached the quarter-finals in four recent tournaments (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2015).
Sporting Talent:
They have some of Africa’s best football talents and players including
* Titi Camara, one of their outstanding footballing talents;
* Ishmael Banguora in football too;
* Hadji Barry, currently a pro footballer in the Americas, and
* Mamadi Diakite, NBA basketball player for the New York Knicks
Thank you for your encouraging words, and critique too on our newsletter. We encourage you to share, post, repost and comment below. We shall see how best to encourage the growth of sports in Africa in our small commune here. Hit us up on [email protected]
Till next time, great week to you all!
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CEO Limpide / engagé pour le numérique responsable #digitalpourtous #avenirdurable
2 个月Thanks for this content, always interesting !
Project management PMP? / PMI-ACP? | Operations management | Sales | Entrepreneurship
2 个月Thanks for sharing! In addition, another HUGE news for the African continent: the signing of the first-ever FIFA regional office in Africa, which will be based in Rabat, Morocco. This is a major recognition of Morocco's growing role in football and a step forward for new development opportunities across the continent!